2023 marks seventy-one years of basic research innovation supported by the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). Throughout the decades, AFRL/AFOSR has been at the forefront of incredible basic research contributions in science and technology for the Department of the Air Force and the Nation, which include: stealth technology, GPS, the computer mouse, superplastics, infrared sensors, Nobel Award winning lithium batteries, and much more.

AFRL/AFOSR has contributed greatly to AFRL’s mission to lead the discovery, development and integration of affordable technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces while successfully supporting AFRL/AFOSR’s mission to discover, shape, and champion basic research that profoundly impacts the future Air Force and Space Force.

To honor AFRL/AFOSR’s 71 years of research innovation and to educate people around the world about the importance of basic research, we invite you to be part of the second annual Art of Science Showcase by submitting your basic research inspired art. Our goal is that your art will reveal the beauty behind many of the basic research inspired innovations past, present and future that continue to support the United States Air Force and Space Force.

We received 136 amazing submissions for the inaugural Basic Research Art of Science Showcase in honor of AFRL/AFOSR's 70 years of research innovation! We’re thrilled to share this beautiful collection with you and thank the many artists and researchers who participated in this year’s event.

Click the image above or here to view a slideshow of the virtual art gallery.
Click here to view the list of art pieces with descriptions.

Here's a wonderful example of the intersection of art and science:

"Self-assembled Hairy Nanoparticle Microstructures"
Researchers: Dr. Christopher Grabowski and Dr. Justin Che, AFRL